Wounded airman jumps for final time (GALLERY, VIDEO)

Published: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 05:24 PM.

HURLBURT FIELD — Staff Sgt. Johnnie Yellock II stood on the edge of the platform of a C-130 some 9,000 feet above Santa Rosa Sound, perched to leap into the air.

He couldn’t help but think of the last time he had been aboard a C-130: more than two years ago on his way to a deployment in Afghanistan as combat controller. Not long after, his ankles and feet were shattered when his vehicle rolled over an improvised bomb.

After years of rehab, 28 surgeries and learning to walk again, the 29-year-old was able to jump out of a plane one last time last week before his retirement next month. He was flanked by his teammates, some of whom had been on the flight two years ago in Afghanistan.

“It was just incredible,” Yellock said. “I’ve been away from the team, so to be able to come back and complete a jump with these guys just like old times, it was awesome.”

Yellock’s injuries were so severe that most doctors would have amputated his feet immediately, he said. With new medical technology, they opted to fuse his ankles and see if a high-tech brace would allow him to walk again.

The process was tedious and involved continuous surgeries, but so far it’s worked.

Tech Sgt. Marcus Mader, one of Yellock’s teammates with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field, rode with him as he was flown out of Afghanistan after he was hurt.

“He was laid up on a stretcher, IVs hanging everywhere,” Mader said.

But on the platform of the aircraft last week, Yellock seemed far from that place.

“Having been there for that, and then we were actually jumping out of an airplane for his final jump, it was amazing,” Mader said. “Not a lot of guys get the opportunity to come back from an injury like that and conduct one more operation with their buds.”

After free-falling and deploying his parachute, Yellock landed on the designated spot in the sound and then easily swam to a waiting boat.

“It was like he’d been jumping the entire time,” Mader said.

Yellock said he has had plenty of time to deal with bittersweet feelings about being injured and seeing the end of his career at such a young age. Now he’s ready to move on.

“I’m ready for the next challenge,” he said. “Everything in life happens for a reason. I have no regrets."

HURLBURT FIELD — Staff Sgt. Johnnie Yellock II stood on the edge of the platform of a C-130 some 9,000 feet above Santa Rosa Sound, perched to leap into the air.

He couldn’t help but think of the last time he had been aboard a C-130: more than two years ago on his way to a deployment in Afghanistan as combat controller. Not long after, his ankles and feet were shattered when his vehicle rolled over an improvised bomb.

After years of rehab, 28 surgeries and learning to walk again, the 29-year-old was able to jump out of a plane one last time last week before his retirement next month. He was flanked by his teammates, some of whom had been on the flight two years ago in Afghanistan.

“It was just incredible,” Yellock said. “I’ve been away from the team, so to be able to come back and complete a jump with these guys just like old times, it was awesome.”

Yellock’s injuries were so severe that most doctors would have amputated his feet immediately, he said. With new medical technology, they opted to fuse his ankles and see if a high-tech brace would allow him to walk again.

The process was tedious and involved continuous surgeries, but so far it’s worked.

Tech Sgt. Marcus Mader, one of Yellock’s teammates with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field, rode with him as he was flown out of Afghanistan after he was hurt.

“He was laid up on a stretcher, IVs hanging everywhere,” Mader said.

But on the platform of the aircraft last week, Yellock seemed far from that place.

“Having been there for that, and then we were actually jumping out of an airplane for his final jump, it was amazing,” Mader said. “Not a lot of guys get the opportunity to come back from an injury like that and conduct one more operation with their buds.”

After free-falling and deploying his parachute, Yellock landed on the designated spot in the sound and then easily swam to a waiting boat.

“It was like he’d been jumping the entire time,” Mader said.

Yellock said he has had plenty of time to deal with bittersweet feelings about being injured and seeing the end of his career at such a young age. Now he’s ready to move on.

“I’m ready for the next challenge,” he said. “Everything in life happens for a reason. I have no regrets."